Drive-chain.



'J. P. WAGNER.

DRIVE CHAIN.

APPLIGA'I'ION FILED MAR.13, 1911.

- Patented D60. 3, 1912.

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llbll lfi STE DRIVE-CHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3,1912.

Application filed March 13, 1911. Serial No. 614,139.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. WAGNER, citizen of the United States,residing at Tamaqua, in the county of Schuylkill and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDrive-Chains, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in drivechains for transmitting mot-ion from one part to another, or for use inelevators, conveyers, car hauls, or the like, and the invention has forits primary object a simple, durable and efficient construction ofrivetless chain, the parts of which may be easily manufactured andreadily assembled and disassembled when required, while at the same timethe completed structure will be strong and positively preclude anyliability of the links accidentally coming apart. And, the inventionalso aims to simplify, and otherwise generally improve this class ofdevices and render them more useful and commercially desirable.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists essentially in certainconstructions, arrangements and combinations of the parts that I shallhereinafter more fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is aside edge-view of a portion of a chain constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a sectionalview, the pin being shown. in elevation.Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the spacing washersemployed. Fig. 4: is a similar View of a locking washer, and Fig. 5 is adetail view of a modification hereinafter specifically described.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawingby the same reference characters.

My improved rivetless chain may embody any desired number of links,preferably arranged in pairs, the ends of one pair of links, which Ishall hereinafter call the inner links, fitting between the adjoiningends of the neXt adjacent pair of links which I shall hereinafter callthe outer links.

In carrying out my invention and in assembling a chain constructed inaccordance therewith, I take two inside links 1 and place them betweenthe corresponding ends of the outside links 2, and insert through thelaterally alined ends, a pin, designated 8. The pin 3 is formed at oneend with a head 4, and is formed near its opposite end with a preferablyannular groove 5. In this latter, a locking washer 6 is designed to fit,said washer being formed with a segmental slot 7, equal in width to thediameter of the grooved portion of the pin 3, whereby the groovedportion of the pin may fit within the central aperture of the washer.After the washer has been applied to the pin, this slot 7 is closed by afillet 8 which is formed with ribs 9 adapted'to fit in recesses 10 whichdefine the opposite side walls of the slot 7 on one face of the washer.After the pin 3 has been inserted in position, and the locking washer 6applied thereto, one of the outside links 2 is moved outwardly in alateral direction, and a split spring steel spacing washer 11 is slippedover the pin 3 between the adjoining surfaces of said end, and theadjacent end of the next inside link 1. The other outside link 2 is thenmoved outwardly in a similar manner, and another steel spring spacingwasher 11 inserted between the same anpli the adjoining end of the otherinside lin It is to be particularly noted that each of the ends of theoutside links 2 is formed with an outwardly facing hollow boss 12 of adiameter to accommodate the head 4 and locking washer 6, respectively,so that when the outside links 2 are moved outwardly in a lateraldirection for the interposition of the spacing washers 11, the hollowbosses 12 will move over and will encircle and house the head 4 andwasher 6, so as to positively preclude the accidental detachment of thewasher 6 and the disconnection of the links.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a very simple construction ofchain, the parts of which may be easily manufactured and assembledwithout the use of rivets.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the preciseconstruction, arrangements and proportions of the parts hereinbeforedescribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but that variouschanges may be made without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

If desired, the bosses may be formed with lugs 12 extending therefrom,as indicated in Fig. 5, so as to receive the head 4 or the washer 6, thelugs being subsequently bent over the head or the washer in order toprevent it from slipping out.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. In achain, outside links, the ends of which are formed with laterallydisposed outwardly facing bosses, an inner link, the end of which isinterposed between the outside links, a pin adapted to be insertedthrough the ends of the links and provided at one end with a headdesigned for accommodation in one boss, a locking washer engaging saidpin and adapted for accommodation in the other boss, and spaced washersinterposed between said ends and adapted to hold the outside links atthe outer limit of a lateral movement with the boss engaging with thehead of the pin and its locking washer, respectively.

2. In a chain, outside links, an inner link interposed between theoutside links, the

adjoining ends of the outside links being formed with outwardly facingbosses, a pin inserted through the overlapped ends of the links andprovided at one end with a head designed for accommodation in one boss,a locking washer adapted to be secured to the projecting opposite end ofthe pin and arranged for accommodation in the other boss upon theoutward movement of the outside links in a lateral direction, and meansbetween the overlapped ends of the links arranged to hold the outsidelinks at the outer limit of their lateral movement.

3. In a chain, a pair of outside links, a pair of insidelinks havingtheir ends interposed between the adjoining ends of the outside links,the latter ends being formed with outwardly facing bosses, a pininserted through the overlapped ends of the links and provided at oneend with a head designed for accommodation in one boss and provided nearits other end with a groove, a locking washer adapted for attachment tothe pin in said groove and arranged for accommodation in the other boss,and spacing washers interposed between the ends of the outside links andthe adjoining ends of the inside links, whereby to hold the outsidelinks with their bosses engaging the head and washer of the pin.

4- In a chain, outside links, inside links,

the ends of which are interposed between a head and formed in the otherend with an annular groove, a locking washer formed with asegmentaledge-opening slot by which it is adapted to be slipped over the pin andinto the groove, the washerhaving the sidewalls of said slot defined byrecesses, a fillet adapted to close said slot and formed with ribsfitting into said recesses, and spacing washers adapted to hold theoutside links with their ends at the outer limit of-a lateral movement,said ends in such position having locking engagement with the head andlocking washer of the pin.

In testimony whereof, I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. WAGNER. [n s] Witnesses: JOHN H. IGHTER, OLIVER T. LAUER.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, II. C.

